Heddle frame for looms



Nov. 8, 1932. R. RAGAN HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Filed May 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR.

' RALPH FPAGAN ATTORNEY.

Nov. 8, 1932. R. RAGAN HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Filed May 24, 1930 2. Sheets-Sheet (fig. 5.

INVENTOR. RALPH RAGAN A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 8, 1932 PATENT OFFICE RALPH RAGAN, or ATLANTA, GEORGIA HEDDLE FRAME ma Looms dApplication filed May 24, 1930. Sem1m.455,414.

My present invention relates to the constructionofheddle frames for looms, and to novel means for supporting the heddle bars intermediate their ends.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide improved means in a heddle frame for supporting the heddle bars intermediate their ends in such manner as to securely lock the bars against any motion whatsoever at the point of support and rela tive to the frame to thereby reduce to a minimum the breakage of the bars at that point,

which means will, however, permit the bars, by means operable from the end of the frame to be'readily locked and unlocked with re-v spect to the frame when desired without dis turbing the cloth on the loom and without r quiring that the operator get down beneath the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting means for the heddle bars including a clamp movable to locking and unlocking positions by eccentrics operable from one end of the heddle. frame, and to provide for the locking clamps to be maintained automatically locked even though wear should take place. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a heddle frame construction in which the frame members are separable, while the frame is inplace 'on the loom, so thata newpiece may be assembled on the frame to replace a broken one without requiring the removal of the frame from the loom, and without requiring the redrawing and re-tying of the warp. i

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction in which the locking device in combination with the heddle bar sup port constantly exerts a clamping action on the heddle bars to thereby reduce to a minimum the possibility of wear, or of crystallization, and to add the cross sectional supporting strength of the heddle bars to thenormal strength of the cross members of the support ing frame. I 1' With these and other objects, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described andclaimed'.

In the drawings, whichillustrate one of the forms that the invention may take,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective, parts being broken away, ofthe hedclle frame with the supporting and locking devices, and showing the means of operating the locking devices from theend ofthe frame.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a cor-nerof the frame.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the corner shown in Figure 2, partially in section.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section through the top member of the frame showing the heddle barsupport andclamp in elevation and in locked position. a

Figure ,5Iis a view similar to Figure 4;, showing the heddle bar support in unlocked position. I

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken approximately along the line 66 ofFig-v urea i Figure/7 is aside elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 6, partially broken away.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken through one of the side members of the frame above the heddle bars. y

' Figure 9 is'a View. in elevation of a por: tion of the locking rod showing one of the coccntrics thereon. Y

Figure 10 is a view in section through one of the locking rods showing an eccentric thereon.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the heddle frame includes top and bottom cross pieces or'railsl, and side memhers or rails 2. These are preferably made of tapered channel section metal. The endsv of therails '1 are reduced, and tapered, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, so that the sides of the rails l have shoulders 1 which fit squarely against-the edges 2* of the side rails 2 of the frame, with the tongues 1 formed on the closed side of the channel sections of rails 1, fitting snugly into the tapered channel sections of the side rails 2, and with the ends of such tongues abuttingsquarely against the bottom faces of the channel secpally of the support 7, within therange of tions of the side rails 2. Dowel pins 5 are driven through the side rails adjacent their ends into the ends of the closed sides of the channel sections of rails 1. Near the ends of the rails 1, pins 3 are passed transversely through their sides, these pins receiving the eyes of bolts 4, the outer threaded ends of which pass through openings provided in the side rails 2, and receive nuts and 1001: washers, which nuts upon being turned up, draw the rails 1 tightly and squarely against the side rails 2, to thereby maintain the frame in rigid squared condition. 7

The heddle bars 6 are arranged within the frame near the top and bottom rails 1, extending at their ends through slots cut in the bottoms of the channel sections of side rails 2. The heddles illustrated at 18. are mounted upon these heddle bars.

Means are provided for supporting and locking the heddle bars at points intermediate their ends, such means being provided for the lower and upper sets of bars. Adescripti on of the locking means for the upper bars 7 will be sufficient, the locking means for the lower bars being similar in construction, but reversed as to position. While only one locking device is illustrated for each set of bars, it will be understood that as many may be, used throughout the width of the frame as will be found desirable. This supporting and locking means includes the fixed clamp support? the sliding lock clamp 8, the locking rod 9, having the eccentric 12 mounted thereon, and locking handle 16.

The support 7, throughout the vertical width of the heddle bars, is of the width of the distance between the heddle bars when the latter are in locked position, so that the of the heddle bars, the support 7 is provided with projections or ears 14, having edges 14 sloping upwardly and outwardly to a distance greater than the thickness of the bed dle 7 bars. so that the inner edges of such bars rest on bevelled faces which tend to clamp them against the lateral edges of the. support 7.

The lock clamp 8 is of a width-slightly narrower than the body portion of the support 7,

and consequently than thedistance between the heddle bars, and this clamp is slidably mounted on the support 7 by means of rivets 11 carried by the support and which pass through the slot 10 which extends longitudinally of the clamp 8. The slot is of such width as to snugly receive the shanks of the rivets without permitting s dewise movement of the clamp 8, and is of such length as not to limit the movement of the clamp 8 longitudiing rod 9, which passes through and has a bearing on the fixed support 7, and on each side rail 2, such locking rod being suitably secured against endwise movement. In the plane of the clamp 8 an eccentric 12, preferably circular, is welded on the rod 9, being mounted elf-center with respect to the rod as shown. .This eccentric works in the slot 18 provided in the lock clamp 8.- The position and arrangement of the slot and eccentric is such that when the throw of eccentric 12 is in a vertical raised position, the clamp 8 is. in raised position and the ears14 and 15 on the support and clamp, respectively, separated sufficiently to allow of the heddle bar 6 being drawn outwardly away from the support and over the sloping or leveled edges 14 without interference. The purpose of this is to enable theheddle bars to be pulled away from theirintermediate support to the position,for instance, indicated in dotted lines for one of the heddle bars in Figure 5, in order that the heddles may he slipped along the barspast the support. The bars 6 are slightly bowed inwardly, however, so that when they are released from a pulled out position, they will immediately return to a position against the lateral edges of the support 7, and rest at their lower edges on the inclined edges of the car 14.

From the unlocked position of Figure 5, a turning motion of the rod-9 imparted by means of thehandle 16 moves the eccentric around and downwardly against the inner edge of the slot 13, thus lowering the clamp 8, and moving its ears toward the ears 14 on the support 7. The cam surfaces 15? strike ing the edges of thebar 6, force them inwardly against the edges of the clamp 7 and down wardly into binding engagement with the inclined surfaces 14, thus providing a bearing ateach edge and across one broad side of the heddle bars; This locked condition is reached normally before the eccentric 12 has completed a half turn,-so that a reserve of adjusting movement is maintained to compensate for any wear which may take place at the point of support, and in order to make the reserved clamping force available at all times the eccentrics are mounted on the rod at such angles that the one furthest from the operating handle will look its clamp first, the rodhaving to be subjected to a torsional strain before the next eccentric locks its clamp. In this manner, there will be enough power in the spring torsion of the rod be tween eccentrics, or between an eccentric. and the handle, to keep the supports automaticallyl locked even though some wear should take p ace.

The heddle bars 6 at their-ends projecting beyond the side rails 2 of the frame are bolted together, a spacer means or guide 17. being provided on the bolt which is slightly less in length than the distance between the slots in the side pieces through which the bars pass. Thus, when the bolts are tightened the outer ends of the heddle bars are bent slightly toward each other, and clamped against the edges of the slots through which they pass, thus giving a'bearing throughout the breadth of the bars between them and the side rails 2 of the frame, thevfriction of which will prevent any relative motion from'beginning at this point, to thereby eliminate wear, even though the frame may be constructed of semi-soft material.

The handle 16 may be made of spring metal and may normallycatch in between the ends of the heddle bars when the clamp is locked, to thereby maintain the locking rod in locked position. To turn the handle, it may be sprung out to clear the'ends .of the heddle bars. The handle may be fitted hexagonally on the rod (as at 9*,Fig. 1) in order'to give several different stopping places for the movement of the rod, and may be secured in posit-ion by a nut and lock washer. To change the stopping'place of the rod, the nut may be loosened, the handle changed to the desired angle, and the nut may then be re-tightened.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the frame is so constructed that there is no possibility of a projecting surface coming into the path of a frame next to it, an advantage over steel heddle frames heretofore provided, and that no screws are used which could work loose and project beyond the frame, and furtherthat there is no necessity.

of weakeningthe heddle bars by drilling holes through them, inorder to clamp them against the heddle support. It will also be noted that there is noopportunity for the heddle bar supporting members to work loose. The construction is such that the common cause of wear and crystallization of the steel heddle bars is eliminated, due tothe fact that the locking device in combination. with the heddle bar support, constantly exerts a clamping action on the steel heddle bar, thereby eliminating wear and possibility of vibration such as might cause crystallization. Furthermore, through the medium of the locking device which maintains the heddle bars in constantly clamped condition, the cross sectional supporting strength of the heddle bars is added to the normal strength a of the main cross pieces of the heddle frame.

' Ihave found that in the process of weaving,

especially on heavy grades of cloth, thatwith a frame constructed. according to my invention, it is possible incase of frame-breakage while weaving, to replace the broken frame witha new one, without removing the heddle bars or'heddles. Thismay be done by unlocking the heddle bars and removing the side of the. frame opposite the locking handles,

after loosening the necessary frame and heddle bar bolts and nuts, and then removing the remaining assembled portion of the frame constituting the top and bottom rails and rement operation. If desired, the heddle bars 7 may be temporarily tiedup to the cross bar of the loom. V r

I This replacement is not only much simpler than having to. redraw and retie the warp, but also prevents the'formation of a bad the finished piece of goods.

- I may desire, in frames to be used on heavy place .in a

grades of cloth, particularly, to additionallybrace theframe and the clamps vertically.

ports 7 with abar or strip 19,"of such size as to fit in between adjacent heddles, the ends of the bar or strip being bolted or otherwise secured as at'QO, to the clamp supports 7; Such brace 19 not only aids in preventing relative movement of the top-and bottom rails, but also aids in rigidifying the clamp supports;

It. will be understood that while the invention has been illustrated in connection with double heddle bars, it is equally applicable to a frame in which single heddle'bars are used,and that while the parts may be made of steel, hardened, if.desired,' other suitable material maybe used. It will also be understood that the invention is capable of being embodied in other forms than the one which has been chosen for illustrative purposes, without departing from the invention or the scope of the claims. v

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by S. Letters Patent is 1. A heddle frame comprising end rails and side rails,.all formed oftapered channel section metal, the ends of the end rails being provided with tongues tapered to fit the chan 4 This I may do by connecting the-clamp sup- 100 1 being reduced to-fit the channel of the other and being provided with shoulders abutting against the edges of the channel of the other, a pin extending transversely of one of the rails, and eye'bolts mounted on the pin and extending through the other rail and provided with means engaging the other rail for'draw ing the rails together. i

3. Aheddle frame comprising end and side rails arranged in rectangular relationship, such rails being formed of channel section metal and being provided with inter-engaging shoulders and channel edges for retaining the frame in rectangular condition, and binding means between the end and side rails, anchored as to one set of rails, and interengaging with the other set of rails for drawing the end and'side rails together and maintaining them in such position.

4. A heddle frame comprising end and side rails, pins carried by the end rails, and eye bolts anchored on the pins and having nuts engaging the side rails for removably clamping the end and side rails together.

. 5. A heddle'frame comprising an end and a side rail, a heddle bar support carried by the end rail, including locking means provided with an-actuating handle arranged on the outside of the side rail, heddle bars adapted to be engaged by said'support and eX- tending at their ends through the side rail, said actuating handle adapted to be engaged between the ends ofthe heddle bars for main taining the heddle bar support in locked condition. J

6. A heddle frame comprising a fixed clamp support and a movable lock clamp, heddle bars adapted to be clamped and released by relative movement of the lock clamp and support, an operating rod having means co-operating with the lock clamp for moving the latter with reference to the clamp support, and a handle for operating the rod adapted to be engaged between the endsof the heddle bars for maintaining the support in locked position and to be disengaged from there-between for operating the rod to unlock the clamp.

7. A heddle frame comprising a heddle bar support havng a movable lock member for locking and unlocking the support, heddle bars adapted to be clamped and unclamped against the support by the movement of such lock, a rod for actuating the lock member,-a

handle carried by the rod adapted to engage between the heddle bars for maintaining the clamp in locked condition, and an adjustable connection between the handle and rod whereby the position of the handle radially bolt between the heddle bars for limiting the movement of their projecting ends toward each other. i

9. A heddle frame comprising a heddle bar support including a fixed clamp secured to one of the rails and having projecting ears provided'with beveled faces adapted to engage the edges of the heddle bars, a slidable lock clamp mounted on the support provided with'ears having beveled faces opposed to those of the support and adapted to co-operate therewith when the clamp is moved in one direction to force the heddle bars against the support, a rotary locking rod for the clamp, and eccentric actuating means between the rod and clamp for moving the clamp into locking or unlocking position when the rod is moved in one direction or another.

10. A heddle frame comprising an intermediate support for a heddle barprovided with an ear having abeveled face adapted to engage the edge of a heddle bar, a sliding lock provided with an ear having a beveled 1 face opposed to that on the support and adapted to co-operate therewith to clamp the heddle bar throughout its width against the support when the lock is moved in one direction and to release the heddle bar when the lock is moved in an opposite direction, and means operable from. outside the heddle rame for actuating thelock. 11. In a heddle frame, an intermediate heddle bar support comprising a fixed clamp secured to one of the rails of the heddle frame, and-having projecting ears provided with beveled faces adapted to engage the edges of the heddle bars, aslidable lock clamp mounted on the support for movement with referj.-.;'

ence thereto and provided with ears having beveled faces opposed to those of the support and adapted to co-operate therewith to clamp the heddle bars throughout their width against the support when the lock clamp is moved in one direction and to release the heddle bars when the lock clamp is moved in an opposite direction, a locking rod, and cooperating means between the locking rod and clamp for actuating the latter when the locking rod is moved.

12-. In a heddle frame, an intermediate heddle bar support, comprising a fixed support and a sliding lock movable with reference to the fixed support,ithe fixed support and sliding lock having cooperating means adapted to engage the heddle bars and clamp them against the support when the lock is moved in one direction and adapted to release the heddle bars when the lock is moved in an opposite direction, a rotary locking rod, and co-operating means between the locking Tod and sliding lock for actuating the latter.

1?). In a heddle frame, an intermediate heddle bar support, comprising a fixed support and a sliding lock movable with reference to the fixed support, the fixed support and sliding lock having co-operating means adapted to engage a heddle bar and clamp it against the support when the lock is moved in one direction andadapted to releasethe heddle bar when the lock is moved in an opposite direction, and means operable from 1outliide the heddle frame for actuating the 14. In a heddle frame, an intermediate heddle bar support, comprising a fixed sup ing lock provided with ears having beveled faces opposed to those on the support and adapted to co-operate therewith to clamp the heddle bars throughout their width against their support when the lock is moved in one direction, whereby to add the cross sectional opposite rails of the rame, such bars norat their ends through mally being bowed inwardly toward each other, and at their ends beyond the rails being clamped together.

I In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

RALPH RAGAN.

port and a sliding lock movable with reference to the fixed support, the fixed support and sliding lock having co-operating means adapted to engage the heddle bars and clamp them against the support when the lock is moved in one direction and adapted to re lease the heddle bars when the lock is moved in an opposite direction, and a locking rod for actuating the lock and adapted to be placed under torsional strain for taking up wear.

15. In a heddle frame, an intermediate clamp and a lock clamp movable with reference to the fixed clamp, the fixed clamp and the lock clamp being provided with opposed beveled faces adapted when moved toward each other to engage a heddle bar and clamp it throughout its'width against the fixed clamp, and means adapted to normally maintain the lock clamp under tension whereby to retain the heddle. bar clamped in the support. 7

16. In a heddle frame, an intermediate heddle bar support comprising locking members movable with respect to each other, a rotary locking rod, eccentric actuating means between the rod and the locking members for actuating the latter, and means for actuating the locking rod. I

17. In a heddle frame, an intermediate support for the heddle bars comprising a movable lock clamp, a movable locking rod, co-operating means between the locking rod and clamp for actuating the latter, and means located on the outside of the frame for actuating the rod.

18. A heddle frame comprising an intermediate support for the heddle bars including a fixed supporting member attached to one of the rails of the frame, and provided with ears having beveled faces adapted to engage the edges of the heddle bars, a slidsupport for a heddle bar, comprising a fixed 

